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Tigers host 13th annual Negro Leagues Weekend

21st Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game this Saturday at 1:08 p.m.

The Detroit Tigers host the franchise's 13th annual Negro Leagues Weekend April 24-26 as the Tigers host the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. On Saturday, April 25 the Tigers will don the throwback uniforms of the Detroit Stars and the Indians will suit up as the Cleveland Buckeyes during the 21st Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game, presented by Comerica Bank. The annual Negro Leagues Weekend marks the longest running three-day celebration of its kind in Major League Baseball.

The Detroit Tigers will pay tribute to several former Negro Leagues players as current and former Tigers players and special guests all come together for a weekend full of events celebrating the contributions of Negro Leagues players to the game of baseball.

Tickets are available at the Comerica Park Box Office, online at tigers.com and by phone at (866) 66-TIGER (84437). For complete ticket information including season, group and suites visit tigers.com/tickets or call 313-471-BALL(2255).

Friday, April 24 vs. Cleveland Indians at 7:08 p.m. Gates Open at 5:00 p.m.

·  Second Annual Legacy Luncheon Presented by Comerica Bank: Comerica Bank and the Detroit Tigers will host a special luncheon in the Tiger Club at Comerica Park beginning at 11:30 a.m. The event will honor 1984 World Champion Lou Whitaker as the recipient of the 2015 Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award. Additional special guests include Detroit High School Baseball players from Cass Tech, Martin Luther King, Renaissance, Communication & Media Arts and Mumford High Schools. As well as former Negro Leagues players, former Detroit Tigers players Willie Horton, Jake Wood, Dan Petry and Dave Rozema, Fox Sports Detroit Broadcasters Rod Allen, Craig Monroe and Mario Impemba, daughters of former Negro Leagues player and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes and members of the Detroit Tigers Front Office including President, CEO and General Manager, David Dombrowski. Andrew Humphrey, meteorologist for Local 4 WDIV, will serve as the host of the Legacy Luncheon.
·  Ninth Annual Detroit Stars Singing Competition: The Tigers have partnered with Radio One for the ninth annual Detroit Stars Singing Competition. The competition will take place at the Big Cat Court and will be hosted by Tune Up of Radio One's 105.9 FM WDMK starting at 5:30 p.m. The 11 finalists will be judged by celebrities Stephen Tulloch, starting linebacker of the Detroit Lions, Lee Thomas of FOX 2 News and Tigers 1984 World Series Champion, Lou Whitaker and recipient of the 2015 Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award. The winner of the Detroit Stars Singing Competition will receive a grand prize of $2,000 during an on-field ceremony prior to the evening's game and the opportunity to sing the national anthem prior to the Detroit Tigers versus Baltimore Orioles game on Saturday, July 18, 2015.
·  "Passing of the Bat Ceremony": The Detroit Tigers continue the celebration of African American ballplayers and their numerous contributions to the game of baseball. The on-field ceremony includes the annual "Passing of the Bat" which embodies the past, present and future contributions of African American ballplayers to the game of baseball and includes ballplayers from many eras of Detroit baseball. The individuals in the pregame ceremony include Walt Owens, a former Negro Leagues player who was a pitcher, outfielder and first baseman for the Detroit Stars from 1953-1955, Tigers alumni including Jake Wood, Willie Horton and Lou Whitaker current Tigers players and coaches including Dave Clark, Rajai Davis, David Price and Anthony Gose and Nick Plummer of Brother Rice High School, a top African American high school prospect from Michigan.
· The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Antonio Embry, the great grandson of National Baseball Hall of Famer and Negro Leagues player Norman "Turkey" Stearnes and Stephen Tulloch of the Detroit Lions.
· The national anthem will be performed by Joyce Stearnes Thompson and Rosilyn Stearnes-Brown, daughters of Norman "Turkey" Stearnes.
· A series of banners will be displayed throughout the weekend at Comerica Park chronicling the history of African American players with the Detroit Tigers.
·  Negro Leagues Art Installation: Negro Leagues themed paintings by Ann Arbor artist Philip Dewey will be on display in the Tiger Club Lobby throughout the weekend. Dewey has been developing a series featuring notable players of color who got their start with, or played exclusively, in the Negro Leagues during the first half of the 20th century. Dewey has been honored by the Society of American Baseball Researchers for his visual work on the Negro Leagues. One of the three paintings depicts Hall of Famer and former Detroit Stars outfielder, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes.

· Negro Leagues merchandise will be sold by Tony Dee's Negro Leagues Baseball Store and Apparel throughout the weekend near Gate A.

21st Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game, Saturday, April 25 vs. Cleveland Indians at 1:08 p.m. Gates Open at 11:30 a.m.
· The first 10,000 fans to enter the park will receive a Detroit Stars Scarf, courtesy of Comerica Bank.

· As part of the Negro Leagues Weekend events, the Tigers are hosting select former Negro Leagues players for a question and answer session prior to the game in the Big Cat Court at 11:45 a.m. hosted by popular radio personality John Mason of 105.9 Radio One. Eight former Negro Leagues players will participate in an interactive discussion with fans to chronicle their career highlights and to share intimate stories about the Negro Leagues. In addition to the players, Negro Leagues historian Louis Manley, President of the Michigan Chapter of Negro Leagues Baseball Players, will participate in the roundtable discussion.
· Comerica Bank will host a special ceremony to pay tribute to the Bing Youth Institutes' BINGO mentoring program. The following individuals from Comerica Bank are scheduled to participate in the ceremony: Pat Alexander, Janice Tessier, Caroline Chambers and Charise Key. From the Bing Youth Institute: former Mayor Dave Bing, Robert Warfield and mentors and mentees from the Institutes' BINGO program.
· Eight former Negro Leagues players will be recognized during a special pre-game on-field ceremony. Members include: Melvin Duncan, Eugene Scruggs, Bill Hill, Charlie Davis, Walt Owens, Pedro Sierra, Ron Teasley and Jake Sanders.
· The ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by Charise Key, a representative of Comerica Bank and former Negro Leagues player Melvin Duncan.
· The national anthem will be performed by the Achievers Ladies Ensemble from the Detroit School of the Arts.

Sunday, April 26 vs. Cleveland Indians at 1:08 p.m. Gates Open at 11:30 a.m.
• The first 5,000 fans will receive a Lou Whitaker commemorative collector card.
• All kids 14-and-younger will receive a David Price poster, presented By Meijer. The poster features a fun picture of Price and his French Bulldog, Astro.
• The first 200 Detroit Tigers Kids Club members to visit the Kids Club Kiosk (behind section 119) on Sunday will receive a complimentary copy of the Negro Leagues Baseball Players Activity Book created by Floyd Stokes and Ted Knorr with illustrations by Valerie Bass.
• Prior to the game, the Tigers will host a question and answer session with 1984 World Champion Lou Whitaker in the Big Cat Court as part of the Negro Leagues weekend events. The interview will be hosted by Greg Bowman of WWJ Newsradio 950. Following the interview, fans can participate in a brief Q&A.
• The Tigers will present 1984 World Champion Lou Whitaker with the 2015 Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award during a special pre-game on-field ceremony. The ceremony also includes a presentation of a testimonial resolution to Lou Whitaker by Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones. The Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award was first presented to former Tiger and 1968 World Champion, Gates Brown in 2009. Additional recipients of the award include: Jake Wood (2010), Earl Wilson (2012), Larry Herndon (2013) and Bill Bruton (2014). A plaque chronicling the history of the African American Legacy Award recipients is on display in the Detroit Tigers Ernie Harwell Media Center.
• The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Tigers 1984 World Series Champion Lou Whitaker, recipient of the 2015 Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award.
• All Sunday home games are Kids Days at Comerica Park. All kids 14-and-under will receive a free promotional item as part of the "Every Kid, Every Sunday" giveaway guarantee, can enjoy free rides courtesy of Kroger on the Comerica Bank Carousel or the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel, can take part in free face painting, have the chance to win a bicycle and are invited down to the field for Kids Run the Bases courtesy of Aquafina and Meijer following the game, weather permitting.

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